April 18, 2018 — Father Stephen A. Privett, SJ, has been named the next president of Verbum Dei High School in South Central Los Angeles. Fr. Privett
will lead the Catholic boys high school that has been providing
its students with a rigorous college prep curriculum for
more than five decades.

“We are delighted to welcome Fr. Steve Privett as the new president
of Verbum Dei High School,” said Scott Wendelin, chairman of the board of
Verbum Dei. “Fr. Privett brings extensive experience in leadership roles at
premier Jesuit educational institutions, including the University of San
Francisco, where he most recently served as president. He has outstanding
academic credentials with a demonstrated track record of success in effectively
leading academic institutions through periods of significant growth and change.
As a Jesuit and an educator, Fr. Privett is passionate about Verbum Dei’s
mission and values.”

“I am deeply honored by the board’s confidence in me, and I
am very excited about the opportunity to work with the entire Verbum Dei
community as we transition to a private, Jesuit school and one of the leading
college preparatory schools in Southern California,” said Fr. Privett. “The
next chapter will be an exciting one filled with new opportunities for our
faculty and staff, our students and families, and our community.”

As the school transitions from a Los Angeles Archdiocesan
school to a private, Jesuit school, Verbum Dei is focused on aligning its
mission with the Jesuit mission of preparing young men for college and
productive lives by delivering a superb academic education and, at the same
time, inspiring students to embrace spirituality, scholarship, service and
leadership. Plans call for expanding and enhancing academic programs and
increasing enrollment to serve more students, enhancing Verbum Dei’s impact on
the community it serves. Verbum Dei will continue to be part of the Cristo Rey
Network of schools and maintain its work-study program, which has had an immeasurable
impact on students.

Previously, Fr. Privett served as president and later chancellor of the University of San Francisco; principal of Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, California; and provost and vice president of academic affairs at Santa Clara University. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, and earned a master’s degree in divinity at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California, and a Ph.D. in catechetics at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Fr. Privett succeeds Father Michael Mandala, SJ, as president. “Fr. Mike Mandala has been a dedicated
president and educator,” said Wendelin. “His tenure is marked by many success
stories. In 2017, 100 percent of Verbum Dei graduates were accepted to leading
colleges, including many of the most prestigious universities in the country,
and our work study program sponsors increased to include nearly 100 companies,
including many of the most prominent corporations and professional services
firms in Los Angeles. We want to thank Fr. Mike for his many contributions to
Verbum Dei.” [Source: Jesuits West]

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